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Sara Sacco Botto of Sacla Italia showing off pesto and tomato sauces she created.

I recently attended the Fancy Food Show at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, with a press pass from a tip via fellow food blogger Amy Sherman of Cooking with Amy. This was my first time attending this specialty food trade show and really had no idea what to expect.

It was, in a word, humongous.

There were thousands of exhibiters showcasing their products, carpeting both the North and South halls of Moscone. Hey, I'm from the tech industry, who knew specialty food was so big? There must have been 20 tea companies, 10 salt exhibitors, 30 chocolatiers, olive oils, meats, and cheeses of every variety known to man. I spent one and a half days at the show and could easily have walked the floor from opening to close for all three days. Samples abound at this show, and after a few hours of noshing on a little of this that and everything, one even starts to experience "taste fatigue". What so struck me as the difference between attending this show and a typical tech trade show is that people at the Fancy Food Show seemed genuinely delighted to be there. People are happy when it comes to food - the people who make it, sell it, buy it, and eat it, take a passionate interest in the process. What follows is a recap of some of the show highlights.

FungusAmongUs

I enjoyed meeting Lynn and Michael Monroe, owners of FungusAmongUs, makers of wonderful dried choice mushrooms. I've been buying their mushrooms for years. What a treat it was to meet the people behind the company!

Morels and other dried mushrooms from FungusAmongUs

Chuao Chocolatier

Chuao Co-owner Michael Antonorsi

Chuao Chocolatier had the most intense hot chocolate I have ever tasted - Spicy Maya Hot Chocolate.

Contrex Mineral Water

Contrex is a bottled mineral water produced by Nestlé Waters (Perrier, Poland Spring, Calistoga, Arrowhead). It is marketed to women for the reason that it naturally contains high levels and balanced levels of calcium and magnesium - essential minerals for women. Contrex is a best seller in France and Nestlé is now launching it in the US.

Salute Santé Grapeseed Oil

Grapeseed oils from Salute Santé

Salute Santé Grapeseed Oil co-founder Nanette Humer is passionate about the mission of her company to promote the benefits of this wonderful oil - high in antioxidants and essential fatty acids, zero cholesterol and trans fats, high smoke point for cooking, with a light, nutty flavor. Nanette was preaching to the choir when she told me that all you ever need to cook with are two oils - olive oil and grapeseed oil.

Sassafras

Sassafras makes adorable cooking kits for kids. Little chefs outfits, aprons, cupcake making kits, perfect for gifts for the little bakers in your life.

NordicWare

I have never had a bundt cake look as good as any of these. From NordicWare

Belvoir Cordials

This elderflower pressé was light, lemony, and lovely.

SteaZ

These sodas from SteaZ are made with green tea! They have one that is even sweetened with stevia, which was surprisingly good.

Patagonia Carica

This carica fruit is imported from Chile. Wonderful with cheese on crackers. (Available at Tamaya Gourmet Chilean Carica.)

Sacla

My first stop at the FFS was to the Sacla booth where Sara Sacco Botto showed off her highly flavorful sun dried tomato and basil pesto sauces. I loved seeing women entrepreneurs like Sara at the show. This is 36 year old Italian Sarah's business, and her sauce formulations. (Big thanks to Gillian Christie of Christie Communications for taking the time to introduce me to Sara and point out some tips for how to "do" the show that first day.) I took home a couple jars of the sauces and have been greedily eating them, spread on crackers.